Well drilling machine



June 26, 1951 H.'H. WILBURN WELL DRILLING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed Nov. 5, 1945 Ni V m h. m:

mm, @m D Fun 44 I i Huj/I Wi/bum June 26, 1951 H. H. WlL-BURN 2,558,202

' WELL DRILLING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5,1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 26, 1951 H. H. WILBURN I WELL DRILLING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 5, 1945 June 1951 H. .4. WILBURN 2,558,202

WELL DRILLING MACHINE I Filed Nov. 5, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 26, 1951 H. H. WILBURN WELL DRILLING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 5, 1945 Patented June 26, 1951 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE- WELL DRILLING MACHINE Hugh H. Wilburn, The Dalles, Oreg.

Application November 5, 1945, Serial No. 626,744

Claims. 1

This invention relates to well drilling machines and is an improvement over the machine shown in my prior Patent Number 763,824 issued June 28, 1904.

An object of this invention is to provide a portable and collapsible well drilling machine which is designed to perform the various operations required in well drilling.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a machine of this kind an improved equalizer for maintaining the cables taut during the drilling operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide a machine of this kind wherein the drilling stroke may be easily and quickly changed.

With the foregoing objects in view, and others which may hereinafter more fully appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, com bination and arrangement of parts, but it will be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

I Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the lower portion of the drilling machine with the derrick elevated.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the upper end of the derrick.

Figure 3 is a top plan of the derrick in collapsed position.

Figure 4 is a detail side elevation of the casing cable or fish line drum.

Figure 5 is a detail side elevation of the derrick in collapsed position supported by the lower frame.

Figure 6 is a detail side elevation, partly broken away, of the lower portion of the frame on the side opposite from that shown in Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a plan view, partly in section, of the walking beam structure.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the lower portion of the apparatus.

Figure 9 is a detail side elevation of the cover for the driving wheel and belt.

Figure 10 is a detail side elevation of one of the brakes.

Referring to the drawings the numeral 5 designates generally a base frame structure which is formed of longitudinal frame members It connected together by transverse members ll which rest on the ground. A power member I8 is mounted at one end of the frame |5, and has a drive shaft I9 extending laterally of the frame on which a driving pulley is mounted.

A driven shaft 2| is disposed between the ends of the frame I5, and has mounted on an extended end thereof a large driven pulley 22 which is connected to the driving pulley 2 bymeans of an endless belt 23.

The shaft 2| has loosely mounted thereon a sprocket wheel 23', which is formed with one part 24 of a clutch, and a second clutch member 25 is slidable on the shaft 2| and is adapted to be moved into clutching engagement with clutch member 24 by operation of a clutch shifting member 26. The sprocket 23' has trained thereabout a chain 21 which also engages a sprocket 28 mounted on a drill cable drum 29. The drum 29 is secured to a drum shaft 30 journalled in the frame l5, adjacent the end thereof opposite from the power member l8.

The drum 29 has extending from one end thereof a brake drum 3| about which a brake band 32 engages and the band 32 is moved into braking engagement with the brake drum 3| by rocking of a bell crank operator or lever 33 connected to the band 32 by a connecting member 34.

The shaft 3!] has secured to one end thereof a worm gear 35 with which a worm 36 engages and the worm 36 is mounted on a worm shaft 31. The shaft 31 is journalled in bearings 38, and the shaft 3i extends lengthwise of the frame l5, and has secured tothe forward end thereof a crank 39 by means of which the shaft 31 may be manually operated to operate the drill cable drum 29 and wind or unwind the cable thereof to raise or draw the drill from the well or lower the drill into the well for continued drilling.

The shaft 2| also has mounted thereon a hollow shaft 40 having a clutch element 4| at one end thereof which is engageable by a second clutch element 42 splined on the shaft 2|. The clutch element 42 is moved into clutch engagement with the clutch member 4| by means of an operator 43.

The outer shaft 4!] has secured thereto a small gear M which meshes with a larger gear 45 secured to a crank shaft 46. The crankshaft 46 is journalled in bearings 47 carried by the longitudinal frame members It of the frame I5 adjacent the power member IS. A brake band 45 operated by rod 46 and lever 4'! permits holding gear 45 while changing drill bits, etc.

The shaft 2| also has loosely mounted thereon a gear 48 having secured relative thereto a clutch element 49. The clutch element 49 is complementary to the clutch member 5|! which is splined on the shaft 2| and is moved into and out of clutch engagement with clutch member 49 by means of an operator 5 l.

The gear 48 meshes with a larger gear 52 which is mounted on a casing drum shaft 53. The shaft 53 is journalled in bearings 54 carried by the frame members I6 of frame I between the drill cable drum 29, and the shaft 2 I.

The casing cable drum 55 is fixed on the shaft 53 between the sides I5 of the frame I5. The frame l5 has secured to the forward end thereof a. pair of upstanding supporting members 56 slightly inclined rearwardly which are braced by means of bracing members 51. g The supporting members 55 have disposed therebetween a walking beam structure, generally designated as 58. The walking beam structure 58 includes a pair of elongated beams 59 connected together at one end thereof by a connecting member 99. The opposite or forward ends of the beams 59 are rockably mounted on a shaft GI which is clamped in boxing members 82 carried by the upper sides of the bracing members 51. The shaft BI has rotatably mounted thereon a sleeve or tubular shaft 63 on which a grooved pulley 54 is loosely mounted. A drilling cable 65, which is trained about the drum 29, is trained over the pulley 64, and is then extended rearwardly and trained under the idle pulley 66 carried by the shaft 61.

The shaft 91 is journalled between a pair of forwardly extending bars 98, which are rockably mounted on a shaft 69. A sleeve I9 is disposed between the rear portions of the bars 68 and spacer sleeves II engage between the outer sides of the bars 58 and the inner sides of the beam frame members 59. The bars 68 are constantly urged downwardlt so as to tension the cable 65 by means of a tensioning structure, including a transversely extending bar I2 which is secured to the upper sides of the bars 58.

A transversely extendin bar I3 is secured to the lower sides of the beam frame members 59, and a bolt I4 is extended through the bars I2 and I3 and is constantly urged downwardly so as to rock the bars 58 and idle pulley 66 downwardly by means of a spring I5 to tension the drilling line or cable 65 from idle pulley or sheave 84 and drum 29.

The spring I5 bears at its upper end against the lower side of bar I3. The walking beam structure 58 is vertically rocked by means of the crankshaft 46 in the drilling operation and the resilient member or spring I5 absorbs the shocks. The inner or rear end portions of the beam members 59 are connected to the crankshaft 46 by means of downwardly extending links IS. The lower ends of the links I6 are mounted on the crankshaft 4B, and the upper ends of the links I6 are rockably mounted on pivot members 11 which are extended through selected openings I8 formed in beam members 59.

In this manner the stroke of the drilling tools can be changed by moving the shock absorber bracket, the pivot member or the shaft 69 to the desired hole I8.

A cable I9 is trained about the drum 55, and is extended upwardly and trained over a grooved pulley 80 mounted on a shaft 8| journalled between the beam members 59. The cable I9 is then extended beneath a grooved pulley 82, which is rotatable on the hollow shaft 63. The cable I9 may be then extended upwardly vertically to the top of the derrick, and trained over one of the upper pulleys, as will be hereinafter described, which are mounted on the top of the derrick.

A derrick, generally designated as 83, is disposed at the forward end of the frame I5, and comprises side members 84, which are secured at their lower ends to a base member 85. The

' is raised.

side members 84 are pivotally mounted on pivot members 89 carried by the supporting members 56, and the derrick 93 is held in substantially upright position by means of a cable 81 which is secured at one end, as at 89, to the base member 85, and is then trained under an idler pulley 89 carried by the forward base connecting member II.

The cable 81 is then extended rearwardly and trained about a drum 99, which is loose relative to the .drum 55 at one end of the latter. The base member is formed at its lower side with oppositely inclined surfaces 9I, and a sill 92 is disposed on the ground such as in a trench below the base member 95 and front transverse member I! in front of the latter.

A pair of wedges 93 are adapted to be positioned between the inclined surface 9! and the upper surface of the sill 92, so that the derrick 83 will be maintained in substantially vertical position. The derrick 83 has mounted at the upper end thereof a pair of grooved pulleys 9 and 95 carried by a. shaft 95. The drilling cable 65 is trained over the pulley 94 and casing or fishing cable I9 is trained over the pulley 95, said cables being adapted to be wound on the respective drums 29 and 55 when driven from shaft 2I by connection of their respective clutches 2425 and 49-59 by operating members or levers 26 and BI, or let out as desired, so that when the drill is raised, the usual casing driving ram may be lowered to hit and drive the casing in to prevent the entrance of slush which is normally sucked into the drill hole under the casing when the drill The derrick 83 also has mounted therein an extensible section including a pair of depending bars 91 which are carried by the shaft 96. The bars 91 have rotatably mounted therebetween a lower grooved pulley 98 and an upper grooved pulley 99. A cable I is anchored at one end, as at IUI, to the upper portion of the derrick 83, and is then trained about the pulleys 98 and 99, and is formed at its free end with a ball I92 which is engageable in an opening or key hole slot I93 formed in the drum 9!] so that the cable I99 may be secured to the drum 99. The drum 99 is adapted to be clutched to the shaft 53 by means of a clutch I04 carried by the shaft 53 and operated by a lever I94.

The clutch I94 is designed for the purpose of permitting rotation of the drum 55 without rotation of the drum 99.

A sand drum I05 is journalled at I96 between the bracing members 51, and includes a friction wheel Ill! which is engageable with a friction wheel I98, carried by the drive shaft 2I. The wheel I0! is adapted to be moved into clutching engagement with the wheel I08 by means of an operator I99 extended to the forward end of the frame structure.

The derrick 83 is adapted to be braced by means of a pair of elongated bracing bars III] which are detachably secured at their upper end portions to the upper end portion of the derrick, as indicated at Ill and are detachably secured at the lower ends to the upper sides of a pair of uprights I I2 carried by the frame I5.

When the derrick is in collapsed and substantially horizontal position, which is the position shown in Figure 5, the upper portion of the derrick is supported by means of a pair of elongated upwardly and rearwardly extending bars II3 secured to the uprights I I2, and the bracing members 51. The connecting bar H4 connects the rear end portions of the supporting bars 3 to- 'on the outer side of the pulley 22.

gether, and forms, a rest on which the upper 'end portion of the derrick is adapted to engage when in collapsed position. A sand line H5 is trained about the sand drum I05 and is extended from this drum and trained about an idler pulley H5 carried by the shaft III journalled between the uprights H2.

The sand line H5 is then extended upwardly to the top of the derrick 83, and may be trained about a pulley H8 which is rotatably carried by one side of the derrick 83.

A blower I I9 is carried by a shield I20 which is disposed about a pulley I2I fixed on the shaft 2i The blower I I9 is designed as an auxiliary element for cleaning tools or for other purposes for which an air blast is desired about a well.

A belt I22 is trained about the pulley I2I and about the pulley I23 secured to the blower shaft.

In order to provide for remote control of the power member I3 I have provided a pulley I24 which is fixed to the control member, such as the throttle, of the power member I8, and an endless member I25 is trained about the pulley I24, and

extended forwardly and trained about the forward pulley I26 rotatably carried by the supporting members 56 the endless member I25 may then be actuated at points remote from the power member I8 and thereby provides for remote control of the throttle or other control member to which the pulley I24 is attached.

What is claimed is: 1. A well drilling device comprising a base frame, a drilling cable drum rotatably carried by frame, means on the frame and connected to the walking beam near the rear end thereof for actuating the walking beam, a frame pivoted in the walking beam frame rearwardly of the actuating connection and extending forwardly in an inclined position, a cable tensioning pulley rotatably carried at the forward end of the latter frame, a drill cable wound on the drum and movably supported at the front end of the walking beam, said cable extending under and upwardly from the cable tensioning pulley and movably guided around the top of the derrick to depend downwardly at the front thereof, and a resilient connection between the walking beam frame and the frame pivoted therein to constantly urge the latter frame downwardly together with the tensioning pulley to tension the cable and absorb shocks during the drilling operation.

2. A well drilling device comprising a base frame, a drilling cable drum rotatably carried by said frame, means for rotating said drum, a derrick pivotally supported above its lower end in an elevated position at the front end of the frame for vertical movement to an upright position at said end of the frame or downwardly and rearwardly at its upper portion over the frame to a substantially horizontal position, a walking beam including a frame, means pivotally mounting said walking beam frame adjacent the pivotal mounting of the derrick to extend rearwardly over the frame, means on the base frame and conall) 'nected to the walking beam near the rear end thereof for actuating the walking beam, a frame pivoted in the walking beam frame and adjustable at said pivot longitudinally along said walking beam frame at either side of the actuating connection thereof to vary the length of the drilling stroke, a cable tensioning pulley rotatably carried by the free end of the latter frame, a drilling cable connected to the drum to be wound upon and unwound therefrom, an idle guide pulley at the pivoted end of the walking beam over which said cable is trained, said cable being trained rearwardly under the cable tensioning pulley and guided over the top of the derrick and downwardly at the front thereof, and a resilient connection between the walking beam frame and the frame pivoted therein adjacent to the pivot thereof constantly urging the second frame and tensioning pulley downwardly to tension the cable and absorb shocks in the drilling operation.

3. A well drilling device comprising a base frame, a drilling cable drum rotatably carried by said frame, means for rotating said dru-m, a derrick pivotally supported above its lower end in an elevated position at the front end of the frame for vertical movement to an upright position at said end of the frame or downwardly and rearwardly at its upper portion over the frame to a substantially horizontal position, a walking beam including a frame, means pivotally mounting said walking beam frame adjacent the pivotal mounting of the derrick to extend rearwardly over the frame, means on the frame and connected to the walking beam nearthe rear end thereof for actuating the walking beam, a frame pivoted in the walking beam frame and adjustable at said pivot longitudinally along said walking beam frame at either side of the actuating connection thereof to vary the length of the drilling stroke, a cable tensioning pulley rotatably carried by the free end of the latter frame, a drilling cable connected to the drum to be wound upon and unwound therefrom, an idle guide pulley at the pivoted end of the walking beam over which said cable is trained, said cable being trained rearwardly under the cable tensioning pulley and guided over the top of the derrick and downwardly at the front thereof, and a resilient connection between the walking beam frame and the frame pivoted therein adjacent to the pivot thereof constantly urging the latter frame and tensioning pulley downwardly to tension the cable and absorb shocks in the drilling operation, said resilient connection being adjustable along the walking beam with the pivoted frame at the pivot thereof to vary the length of the drilling stroke.

4. A well drilling device comprising a base frame, a drilling cable drum rotatably carried by said frame, means for rotating said drum, a derrick pivotally supported above its lower end in an elevated position at the front end of the frame for vertical movement to an upright position at said end of the frame or downwardly and rearwardly at its upper portion over the frame to a substantially horizontal position, a walking beam including a frame, means pivotally mounting said walking beam frame adjacent the'pivotal mounting of the derrick to extend rearwardly over the frame, means on the frame and connected to the walking beam near the rear end thereof for actuating the walking beam, a frame pivoted in the walking beam frame and adjustable at said pivot longitudinally along said walking beam frame at either side of the actuating connection thereof to vary the length of the drilling stroke, a cable tensioning pulley rotatably carried by the free end of the latter frame, a drilling cable connected to the drum to be wound upon and unwound therefrom, an idle guide pulley at the pivoted end of the walking beam over which said cable is trained, said cable being trained rearwardly under the cable tensioning pulley and guided over the top of the derrick and downwardly at the front thereof, a cross bar on the pivoted frame adjacent thepivot thereof, a cross bar spanning the bottom of the walking beam frame below the first cross bar, a connection between said cross bars including resilient means on said connection constantly urging the pivoted frame downwardly, a second drum, a cable wound on the second drum and detachably connected to the lower end of the derrick to raise or lower the derrick, said cables wound upon the drums and means to release said drums for unwinding of the cables therefrom.

5. A well drilling device comprising a base frame, a drill cable drum rotatably carried by said frame, means for rotating said drum, a cable wound on the drum, means for releasing the drum for unwinding of the cable therefrom, a pair of uprights fixedly carried by thefront end of the frame, a derrick pivoted above its lower end between the upper ends of said uprights and movable to an upright position with the lower portion thereof engaging the front end of the frame, means for wedging the lower end of the derrick at the ground to maintain said derrick in a vertical position, a bracing structure between the uprights and the rear portion of the frame and a bracing structure for the first bracing structure including uprights at the rear portion of the frame to which the second bracing structure is connected in an elevated position to support the derrick in a rearwardly collapsed horizontal position, braces between the second uprights and the top portion of the derrick, a walking beam including spaced apart bars pivoted on the first bracing structure adjacent the first uprights and pivot of the derrick, guide means for the cable at said pivot, bars pivoted rearwardly between the bars of the Walking beam and having their free ends extending forwardly, a cable tensioning pulley carried by said free ends and under which the cable is trained, and a resilient connection extending between the bars of the walking beam and the bars pivoted thereto forwardly of said pivot constantly urging the pivoted bars and tensioning pulley downwardly to tension the cable, absorb shocks in the drilling operation and take up slack in the cable.

HUGH H. WILBURN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 295,413 Martin Mar. 18, 1884 652,004 Loomis June 19, 1900 686,202 Bushner Nov. 5, 1901 732,206 Martin June 30, 1903 763,824 Wilburn June 28, 1904 948,425 Loomis Feb. 8, 1910 990,743 Jennings Apr. 25, 1911 998,385 Owen July 18, 1911 1,397,758 Ekas Nov. 22, 1921 1,489,012 Schadek Apr. 1, 1924 1,522,528 McCarthy -1 Jan. 13, 1925 1,530,284 Oliver et a1 Mar. 1'7, 1925 1,805,139 Good May 12, 1931 2,052,301 Johansen Aug. 25, 1936 2,057,137 Culbertson Oct. 13, 1936 

